Rumor has it that 2Clix have dropped their case against Whirlpool, but not according to the records of the Queensland Supreme Court that may not be the case. At this point it has not bee confirmed by 2Clix solicitors, and Whirlpool has had trouble getting an answer out of them. This is leaving everything up in the air at present with nothing being for certain.

UPDATE
It now appears as though it is true. Whirlpool received a response late today from 2Clix solicitors Turnbull & Co, stating that it has received instructions to discontinue the case and that it will “attend to preparation of the Notice of Discontinuance”.

So at this point it looks like a victory for Simon and his member base.

Previous Post
Whirlpool.net.au
Electronic Frontiers Australia Media Release

2Clix Australia Pty Ltd, an accounting software firm, has initiated legal proceedings against Whirlpool founder Simon Wright. 2Clix is alleging that Simon Wright allowed forum members to post statements relating to 2Clix software applications that are both false and malicious. They are claiming damages of around $150,000 (AU), plus costs, and demanding the offending threads be removed.

I question if 2Clix is taking the right steps here, I mean Whirlpool has a member base of over 180,000 members (yes there may be duplicates in there) and thats potentially a very large group of people to alienate. In reality I think this may do them more harm than good.

Important Related Links
Statement of Claims
SlashDot
Donate to Whirlpool.net.au
Source – Whirlpool.net.au
Discussion Thread – Whirlpool.net.au
Wikipedia Entry
Electronic Frontiers Australia Media Release
Offending Thread 1 – 2Clix of Not 2Clix
Offending Thread 2 – Anyone used 2clix

Other Sites Carrying the news:
Computerworld.com.au
Sydney Morning Herald
Gizmodo.com.au
PCWorld Australia
ITNews.com.au
The Register
The Age
Brisbane Times
Neowin.net
CNet Blog – Matt Asay
ARNnet
iTWire
news.com.com (Cnet)
Australia-Media.com.au
Geek Rant dot org
The Inquirer
CrunchGear
LiveLeak.com
ZDNet
APC Magazine
Tech.Blorge.com
Tailored Consulting

Term of Interest – Streisand effect
The “Streisand effect” is a term used to describe a phenomenon on the Internet where an attempt to censor or remove (in particular, by the means of cease-and-desist letters) a certain piece of information (for example, a photograph, file, or even a whole website) backfires and the information receives extensive publicity on the Internet, often widely mirrored, or distributed on file-sharing networks in a short period of time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

Special Site
http://www.whirlpoolsued.net/